Adopted in Montevideo in 1933 at the 7th International Conference of American States, the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States is an agreement with some qualifications which states that political existence of the State is independent of recognition by other states. The convention also states that disputes should be settled by peaceful methods and that territorial acquisitions or special advantages obtained by force should not be recognized. The Montevideo Convention is generally regarded as the standard definition of the state.